2 NYC police officers critical after Brooklyn fire

Sunday April 6, 2014 10:15 PM

NEW YORK (AP) — Two New York City police officers are in critical condition after being overcome by smoke while responding to a suspicious fire in a residential building in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn on Sunday.

Police Commissioner William Bratton says "officers Rosa Rodriguez and Dennis Guerra took the building's elevator up to the 13th floor where they were overcome by smoke in the hallway as they exited."

Bratton says firefighters found both officers "unconscious and unresponsive."

The commissioner says the officers suffered carbon monoxide poisoning and the effects of smoke inhalation.

Fire officials say the blaze in the 18-story building on Surf Avenue broke out just after noon on the 13th floor and was brought under control within an hour.

Bratton says "The cause of the fire has been deemed suspicious and is under active investigation."

Three firefighters and two civilians were treated for minor injuries.

%@AP Links

145-a-16-(Pat Lynch, president, Police Benevolent Association, at news conference)-"New York City police"-Police union president Pat Lynch asks people to remember the families of the two critically-injured officers, noting that one is the son of a retired policeman. (6 Apr 2014)

<<CUT *145 (04/06/14)££ 00:16 "New York City police"

144-a-11-(Dr. Eli Kleinman, police surgeon with the NYPD, at news conference)-"Hospital Medical Center"-Police Surgeon Dr. Eli Kleinman says both officers are in critical condition and have been moved to hospitals that offer specialized care. ((watch for dating)) (6 Apr 2014)

<<CUT *144 (04/06/14)££ 00:11 "Hospital Medical Center"

141-a-15-(New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, at news conference)-"in the hallway"-New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton says two officers -- Rosa Rodriguez and Dennis Guerra -- were found unconscious on the floor, after responding to a fire on the 13th floor of a building in Coney Island. (6 Apr 2014)

<<CUT *141 (04/06/14)££ 00:15 "in the hallway"

142-a-10-(Mayor Bill de Blasio (BLAH'-zee-oh), D-New York, at news conference)-"of the NYPD"-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says the city will do what it can to help the injured officers and their families. (6 Apr 2014)

<<CUT *142 (04/06/14)££ 00:10 "of the NYPD"

143-a-09-(Mayor Bill de Blasio (BLAH'-zee-oh), D-New York, at news conference)-"stand by them"-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says this accident demonstrates the risk that police officers take every day. (Both of the officers are parents, and each has four children) (6 Apr 2014)

<<CUT *143 (04/06/14)££ 00:09 "stand by them"

126-v-23-(Julie Walker, AP correspondent)--Two New York City police officers are in critical condition, after responding to a fire in a Coney Island building today. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports. (6 Apr 2014)

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